Simply Rachel

I've had overnight to proccess the retirement of Rachel Alexandra. We may never know what made Jess Jackson retire his filly yesterday. It could be that he didn't want to lose again, or the fact he's in failing health himself (cancer), or the fact that she just wasn't the same. I'm by no means a Jackson fan, so I'm not going to defend him on this year's campaign. In all honesty, this is not what this post is about either. This is about how Rachel helped me know that it was okay to love again, in more ways then one.

2008 and 2009 where rough years for me, emotionally, physically and mentally, both in a horse racing sense, and personally. Eight Belles had broke down in the Derby, Big Brown one of my least favorite horses won the Derby, and then Casino Drive was scratched from the Belmont horse racing wise. Personally, my dad was diagnoised and subqently passed away of colon cancer, and I dropped out of college to save money. Needless to say horse racing was the last thing on my mind.

However a month after the 08 Derby, I was reading Blood Horse's Maiden Watch blog. This blog covers stallions whose oldest foals are 2yo and Medaglia d' Oro was one of the stallions that was featured. The day I read the blog, a MDO filly out of a Roar mare was one of those listed. I noticed the first part of her name was Rachel. Of course with my first name is Rachel, it got my interest. It was for the Debutate Stakes, where she finished second. I added her to my Equibase Virtual Stable and then waited to get her workouts. She ended up being off for several months and next ran at Keenland (her lone time on a synthetic surface) where she won. Another try in stakes company this time in the Pocahontas where she finished second again. This was when I realised she had potential.

Then I saw that she was trained by Hal Wiggins. Naturally, I thought to my grandfather whose first name is Hal. Sometimes destiney does that to you. Her Golden Rod win was one of my favorites as she was able to turn the tables on Sara Louise who had beaten her in the Pocahontas. Little did the world know, she was just warming up. After winning the Martha Washington, and Fair Grounds Oaks, the Fantasy was her prep for the KY Oaks. For me personally it was bittersweet as not only was it my mom's birthday, but it was the day after my dad passed away. When I was able watch the replay I started to cry.

Our house was under repair at the time, and I was unable to view the Oaks at the Hotel we where staying at. However, I was able to squeel like a little girl when I read that she won by a little over 20 lengths. Two weeks later when she ran in the Preakness, I was able to finally see her on tv (I had watched most of her races on the internet). After the race, my mom, sister and myself went out to dinner to a restraunt near the hotel. When we got in there NBC was still on and Lester Holt was explaining that Rachel won and there where people cheering! I couldn't believe it, even though we where only a few minutes away from Delaware Park, horse racing is really not a big thing in Delaware. While we where waiting for a table, a man pulled out his phone and told the family that the filly (meaning Rachel) won the Preakness. Of course she won that race just 10 days after being sold and transfered to Steve Asmussen.

You could tell that Calvin Borel loved Rachel, the fact that he took off Mine That Bird who had won the Derby the day after the duo won the Oaks says something. Keep in mind two years before, Calvin was just a nose a away from winning the Preakness on Street Sense after taking the Derby with the 06 2yo Champ. Of course Curlin won the race on his way to become 2 time Horse of the Year. He went as far as saying that Rachel was the best horse that he's ever ridden. That's how I felt as well, in a way Rachel tought me that it was okay to love again (I'm currently loving my vol. job for the first time in 2 years, and I'm working on planning out a novel that I'm going to be writing in the near future). I know it sounds strange that a horse who I had never met did that, but there is something about her. And I'm not alone in that thinking either. Rachel had fans all over the world, and brought together people who may otherwise not have met. Funny how things work out like that.

When I first titled this post, it was a A One of Kind Horse, but that didn't feel right. That's when I came up with Simply Rachel. It felt right, it's how I want to remember her. So what's next for our favorite heroine? A date with Curlin next year, hopefully in 5 years (when the foal will be three) we'll see him/her on the Derby/Oaks trail. I know that lightning doesn't strike twice when it comes to horses of Rachel's caliber, maybe with this little one it will. Also a trip the Hall of Fame where she should be inducted in her first year of elegbility. In the meantime, Lotta Kim is carrying a full sibling to Rachel with her dam (Kim's Blues) also carring a foal by Medaglia d' Oro.

This isn't a goodbye, but a hello to a new journey in life. Hopefully one that will bring just as much wonder as Rachel brought onto the track.

All Hail Rachel the Great!

Last night's Eclipse awards finally ended the speculation of who was Horse of the Year. Would it be the stunning Rachel Alexandra, who was eight for eight on the season, or the undefeated Zenyatta who was five for five for the season. Before I talk about HOY, I'm going to go over the other catagories that where also honored last night.

2yo Male: Really it was no suprise that Lookin at Lucky won, and it was well deserved. However when the vote totals came out, Vale of York finished second in first place votes. Why? Just because he was the BC Juvenile winner? Noble's Promises had been a much better horse going into that race then Vale of York, and still is IMO. That being said, Lucky is the very early Derby favorite, and he may not even be the best horse in his own barn anymore.

2yo Female: I really loved Nancy Mazzoni's shout out to She Be Wild ("She Be Wild, we love you!"), I've been a fan of this filly since watching HRTV's Against the Odds when Jeff Sigel picked her for the Arlington Lassie (and this was before I actually had HRTV, I was watching the show on MASN). Hopefully she does well on this year's Oaks Trail.

3yo Male: Obviously dispite being a huge fan of Summer Bird, I'm not a fan of his connections. No offence to his fans, but I find Tim Ice to have annoying voice (sorry!).

3yo Female: Two words: Rachel, unanimous. Enough said. Although I will say that Jess Jackson did not thank Hal Wiggins or Calvin Borel when he accepted this award (a hint of what is to come), and that was disapointing.

Older Male: A well deserved award for Gio Ponti, he did win an award earlier in the night so his owner didn't talk for that long.

Older Female: Dear DRF, Whoever voted for Icon Project, needs to be fired Love a Zenyatta fan. Seriously, she should have been unanimous, but some dingdong (apperently all signs point to the highley respected Andy Beyer) voted for IP (who had 1 G1 win, against really not that great horses), instead of Zen. The cool thing is Sting whose group the Police's album Zenyatta Mondatta, Big Z is named after gave a video congrats!

Female Sprinter: Even though I knew she would win, that doesn't mean I'm disapointed about Informed Decision. She's a synth specialist who peaked at the right time, I'm sorry.

Male Sprinter: Second most disapointing announcement of the night, with Kodiak Kowboy winning. Nice horse, but far from my favorite. Tom Ludt also did not include KK's former trainer, Larry Jones. However, this I'm not as annoyed about as he started and ended his career with Steve Asmussen. In a way though, it ended up being how Zayat's second half of the season went: With a thud. As I said before karma, hated Pioneerof the Nile, and it hated Zensational (both who I think will be failures at stud, but that's a story for another day).

Grass Male: GIO!!!!!! There was a chance that Condiuit would steal it, but thankfully with an upgrade in Team USA grass horses, the award was returned to the States. And the cool thing? He's coming back, expect him and Presious Passion to tear up the grass ranks, and then he most likley will end his career in the BCC (I don't see dirt being a problem for him, he's a 1/2 brother to the G1 placed Bon Jovi Girl).

Grass Female: Most disapointing announcement of the night. Yes Goldikova is a nice horse, but I think most of us where rooting for Ventura. I honestly think that she and Music Note will go down as two of the best horses not to win an Eclipse.

I'm going to skip the human awards, because I will be talking about them later this week.

Horse of the Year: Since the Eclipses started in the 1970's only three females have won the award (before the Eclipses I believe the TRF and DRF gave out two different sets of awards): All Along, Lady's Secret and Azeri. The Sisterhood added a new member to that list. Would it be Zenyatta, or Rachel Alexandra. In the end, the Princess of Racing, was crowned the Queen of 2009 as Rachel won in a unexpected landslide (it was expected the vote to be close). Jess Jackson did thank Calvin Borel this time around, but forgot Hal Wiggins for the second time. This was really the only thing that disapointed me, some people may agree, some people may disagree. That's what opinons are made of.

There was also outcry because Jerry Moss was acting unclassy right after Rachel was announced. I'm not going to comment on that, even though my opinon may shock some people. However I will say that it was classy for both Mr. Jackson and Mr. Moss to congraduate each other's horses. They really didn't have to do that.

A few other things I took out of the ceremony Kenny Mayne > Kenny Rice when it comes to the funny jokes (although I found the Conan joke pretty funny, but it could be because of my dislike of Conan). While Ambasssador Farish was giving his speech, there was a heckler, I really hope they took her out of the room because that was a bit rude (rumor has it she said California, and they told her to be quite, but she said no).

I do want to appologize for not having a Weekend Recap post, I got involved with the Golden Globes. But just a little bit of a recap, it was a hit and miss weekend. I do want to thank everyone who particpated in yesterday's chat, I plan on doing the chats most likely once a month up to Derby on Mondays for about an hour or so. Check back here for more details in the upcoming weeks.